Author's Note: Please forgive the shortness of this chapter. Basically, this story needed a shot in the arm and usually when that happens, it requires a shorter chapter rather than a longer one. I promise the next chapter will be longer and will arrive sooner. Promise!

"Point Dread"

Part Two

It was turning out to be another scorcher for Eternos. The summer heat felt hot enough to sizzle a an egg on the pavement. The market was filled with sweaty bodies, most of them seeking a way to cool off. They received this when a cool wind came across the city. Many people stopped and paused. It was a low wind, but refreshing.

"Feels good, doesn't it?" asked Adam.

"Not good enough!" Cringer replied.

At just that moment, Man-At-Arms came rushing by. He grabbed Adam by the shoulder. "Scouts have just reported an armored man heading towards the gate. It's a type of armor I've never seen. Considering all that has been happening, I think it may be a good idea if it was He-Man that greeted him."

Adam nodded. The three of them quickly left the market and Adam and Cringer entered a secluded nook behind a shallow wall. Man-At-Arms stood before them and kept an eye out.

"BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL . . ." Adam shouted, though quietly. Energy and power flowed all over him, transforming him into He-Man. "I HAVE THE POWER!" He-Man then pointed the Sword of Power at Cringer, changing him into Battle-Cat.

"Ready?" asked Man-At-Arms as He-Man emerged.

"Ready."

The three of them rushed through the market, garnering looks and whispers as they moved. Within moments, they had reached the gatehouse and looked out at the road. The stranger was Sy-Klone, though neither He-Man nor Man-At-Arms knew this.

"Anyone you recognize?" asked Man-At-Arms.

"No. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing," He-Man answered. "But I'd like to know who this is."

He-Man and Battle-Cat were jumping out from the gate, then over the bridge of the Second Gate, then down the road to the First Gate. As soon as the pair came out from the First Gate, Sy-Klone was in their path. Much to He-Man's surprise, however, Sy-Klone rose no hand against He-Man. He instead bowed before the champion of Grayskull.

"Greetings, He-Man," Sy-Klone offered. "I am Sy-Klone and I am here to aid you in your battle against the terrible evil that is Skeletor."

He-Man blinked. "You . . . really?"

"Yes. I control the very winds. I can be valuable to your cause."

"How did you get these powers?"

Sy-Klone pulled out a piece of parchment. "The Council of Seasons gave this to me. They said it would prove my word."

He-Man took the parchment. Scribbled upon it were words that he could not understand. "Why don't you come on in," He-Man replied.

"Certainly," Sy-Klone responded.

Shortly, they joined Man-At-Arms at the Second Gate. "His name is Sy-Klone," He-Man explained. "He claims to have been sent by the Council of Seasons."

He-Man handed Man-At-Arms parchment. After Man-At-Arms took it, He-Man heard the sound of the Sorceress' voice in his mind.

He-Man, I need to see you at Castle Grayskull.

He-Man looked to Man-At-Arms. "I need to get to Grayskull."

Man-At-Arms nodded. "I'll see you soon, then."

He-Man and Battle-Cat rode quickly north.

"Something has stirred many ancient forces in the South Fertile Plains, far beyond the frontiers of Galdor and Hourglass Mountain."

"What do you mean, Sorceress?"

She gave him a look that was grave. He-Man grimed.

"I'm not sure, but I have my fears." She walked out from the throne room. He-Man followed her, not sure if she wanted him to or not. They came to the library, which was far larger than He-Man would have guessed. The shelved walls were huge and sunlight shined softly through the massive windows.

The Sorceress drew forth an ancient-looking scroll and unrolled it. The paper was yellowed and crumbled at the edges, but the ink was fine and clear. It was a map of what looked like the southern Fertile Plains – the vast unexplored regions of the south.

She pointed to a tall mountain among a line of them. A massive line of mountains was rumored to sit some two hundreds of Galdor, the southernmost kingdom. But since no one had traveled that far south or been able to accurately map it, it was all still covered in speculation. They said that the land of the south was filled with strange creatures.

The mountain itself sat in the middle of what could have been a pass in the line of mountains. It was marked with the words of the Ancients that He-Man recognized as "Point Dread."

"I believe that is where this is what is stirring these ancient forces. Many centuries ago, the Ancients created a key to Castle Grayskull in case a dark force were to enter here and managed to close the jawbridge. The key was then hidden away. However, somehow an ancient warlord found it during the Snake-Men Wars of the Second Age. He nearly succeeded in using it to open Castle Grayskull, but he was stopped by the Council of Elders.

"The Elders then placed the key to Castle Grayskull upon the summit of Point Dread and placed ancient guardians to protect it. These guardians then slumbered for many years."

"But like you said, something stirred them."

"Yes. And I can think of only one thing that could make them stir after all these years of slumber."

"Skeletor."

"Yes." She rolled up the scroll. "You must chase after him, He-Man, but traveling by air will be difficult. The skies are filled with many beasts that would likely strike your ships down. The southern Fertile Plains is untamed and wild, filled with creatures that even I do not know much about. Take with you those you can and be very careful and very swift."

"I shall."

"And He-Man?"

"Yes?"

"A warrior came to you from the Council of the Seasons. Sy-Klone."

"Yes."

"He is a fit warrior. He can be trusted."

Upon arriving at Eternos, He-Man found an air of tension had filled the city and Palace. He came through the gates and when he entered the Palace, Man-At-Arms was waiting for him.

"What did the Sorceress have to say?"

"There's trouble. We need to get a team together and get into the southern Fertile Plains. Skeletor is heading towards a place called Point Dread, where there's a key that will open up Castle Grayskull stashed away."

"That corresponds with what we've been hearing then. The Collector, Skeletor's vehicle of choice, just headed southwards."

"The Sorceress warned me of traveling by air. She said there were mighty beasts that could, well, kill us."

Man-At-Arms nodded. "It's been my experience to listen to her when she says things like that. I'll prep an Attack Track. You can choose you will go with us."

"Already thought of it."

"And?"

"You, Man-E-Faces, Mekaneck, Fisto, Teela, and Sy-Klone."

"Sy-Klone? Really?"

"Really. The Sorceress vouched for him."

"Well, like I said, it's best to listen to her when she says something like that."